RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Belgian Army Battalion in Romania for the Dacian Spring exercise

Four thousand soldiers from ten allied countries participated this month in the multinational exercise Dacian Spring, organized in Romania

Foto: Ministerul belgian al Apărării
Foto: Ministerul belgian al Apărării

, 28.05.2025, 13:17

Four thousand soldiers from ten allied countries participated this month in the multinational exercise Dacian Spring, organized on Romanian territory. The exercise was led by the Multinational Division South-East, and the training took place in the training ranges of Smârdan (east), Cincu (center), Bogata (northwest), Capu Midia (southeast) and Frecăței (east). Structures from all categories of forces of the Romanian Army, as well as personnel from the Multinational Command Brigade South-East and contingents of allied countries took part in the Dacian Spring exercise. The main goal of the exercise was to practice a collective defense operation and strengthen the integration of the participating forces into the command and control architecture of the multinational division. For the first time, a maneuver battalion from the Belgian army was deployed to Romania for this exercise, which trained together with a Romanian tank battalion, at the Bogata training range in Cluj County.

Major Van Herck is the deputy commander of the Belgian battalion and was very pleased with the cooperation with the Romanian military: “It is a landmark moment for the Belgian Land Forces. It is also an important stage for us, because it is the first time in a long time that we are deploying a large-scale battle group. And especially on the eastern flank. The proactivity of the Romanian Armed Forces is something that impresses us. We are very happy to work with them and we learn a lot from each other. The main advantage of the Romanian Armed Forces is that they still have something that we, the Belgian Armed Forces, no longer have, namely the tank combat capability and the armored capability. So, we, as infantry people, are very pleased to collaborate with them, especially with the tank battalion located here in Bogata, because we cannot conduct this type of training at home, in Belgium.”

The Belgian officer also stressed the importance of each allied nation in strengthening the defense on NATO’s eastern flank and believes that exercises such as Dacian Spring should be organized constantly: “Based on the new NATO defense plans, it is natural to strengthen our forces in order to have a deterrent effect on the eastern flank. It is a reference point, an important stage for the extended collective defense on this eastern flank. Belgium assumes its role within NATO, alongside France and of course, the Romanian Armed Forces. But we have to look at this on a large scale, and this means the collective defense of the entire eastern flank of Europe. We are currently deploying a large battle group, for the first time in a long time. We are impressed by the Romanian Armed Forces. We are happy to work with them and with the French Armed Forces who are stationed here. We hope to return here in the future with other force deployments, such as the battle group that we see today”.

For the Belgian military, the Dacian Spring exercise was a very useful experience. Joint training with the military of other allied nations showed them how to act in larger scenarios. “Thanks to the Dacian Spring exercise, we learned exactly what our role is in a larger framework. We are learning what our role is together with the French Armed Forces. We are learning what we can do together with the Romanian Armed Forces. Interoperability between different nations is really important. And this aspect can be seen during the Dacian Spring exercise,” Major Van Herck concluded.

The Belgian armed forces also contribute troops to the NATO Battle Group in Romania, one of eight allied structures of this type operating in the eastern part of Europe, part of the North Atlantic Alliance’s defense and deterrence posture in the region. (MI)

Photo: The French Defence Ministry
Romania. The Eastern Flank Wednesday, 25 June 2025

Romania the Eastern Flank: Together for a stronger eastern flank

It has been more than three years since Romania has been hosting one of NATO’s battle groups deployed to our country so that the alliance may...

Romania the Eastern Flank: Together for a stronger eastern flank
Spanish Marines at the Dacian Spring exercise in Romania
Romania. The Eastern Flank Wednesday, 11 June 2025

Spanish Marines at the Dacian Spring exercise in Romania

Last month, Romania hosted the Dacian Spring 2025multinational exercise, planned and led by NATO’s Multinational Division South-East Command in...

Spanish Marines at the Dacian Spring exercise in Romania
Romanian, Italian and Bulgarian soldiers on a joint mission in Cincu
Romania. The Eastern Flank Wednesday, 21 May 2025

Romanian, Italian and Bulgarian soldiers on a joint mission in Cincu

The Cincu training center (central Romania) is currently hosting the Scorpions Legacy 2025 multinational exercise, conducted under the aegis of...

Romanian, Italian and Bulgarian soldiers on a joint mission in Cincu
Photo: Multinational Division South East
Romania. The Eastern Flank Wednesday, 14 May 2025

The NATO Battle Group in Romania, a bastion of the Allied Eastern Flank

Romania hosts one of the eight permanent multinational battle groups of the North Atlantic Alliance deployed in the eastern part of its territory....

The NATO Battle Group in Romania, a bastion of the Allied Eastern Flank
Romania. The Eastern Flank Wednesday, 30 April 2025

Training and efficient cooperation between Romanian and French soldiers

  Soldiers from the 634th Infantry Battalion in Piatra Neamț (northeastern Romania) have recently held a joint training event with French...

Training and efficient cooperation between Romanian and French soldiers
Romania. The Eastern Flank Wednesday, 23 April 2025

Different nations, one mission

NATO allied forces are combining their efforts every day under the same assignment: namely to protect the Alliance’s Eastern Flank. At the National...

Different nations, one mission
Romania. The Eastern Flank Wednesday, 16 April 2025

The 101st Airborne Division of the United States returns to Romania

  The ceremony was hosted by the 1st Armored Division. The commander of the large unit, Major General Curtiss Taylor, was also present, and...

The 101st Airborne Division of the United States returns to Romania
Romania. The Eastern Flank Wednesday, 09 April 2025

Flying Romanian airspace, over the cold Black Sea

The “Guardian” detachment of the Spanish Air Forces from the 57th “Captain Aviator Constantin Cantacuzino” air base in (southeast) has...

Flying Romanian airspace, over the cold Black Sea

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company